Vegitation

Garterman

Any plans for any grassy/vegitation areas?
I was just visualising a grassy area with skulks rustling through the grass just out of sight <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> Biodome sprang to mind.
Other moveable objects to avoid distrupting to give away position might be nice too - cables, chains etc.

Harimau

Yes please.

Hawkeye

I like the idea, though sounds very costly in computer resources to have to render a round biodome from anywhere on the map in addition to all the plants and so forth. Good idea, but unfortunately implementation and creativity don't necessarily go hand in hand.

ryknow69

Fan-Job anyone? Someone is bound to make one anyway, all the Dev team needs to do is implement the means, which from what I've seen, ain't much but just throwing in what they used to make the models and terrain with the map maker, for the general public. I can imagin a NS2_BioDome with a main bio-dome and many other small ones, connected by hallways with observatory's above the glass domes. There'd be some none biodome areas, storage, power control, ya de ya.
And to get that done, all a devoted player, which every game gets, needs to do is get the tools the Dev team used into the Map Maker Download Pack, or simular tools.

Radix

Source supports ... gad what r they called... I don't remember. It's the effect where when you place a given texture and view it from the side little sprigs of grass, etc. spring up from it like holograms.

Not too server intensive iirc. Maybe that would do what you're looking for.

spellman23

Just as long as it doesn't make my machine choke, unlike Oblivion's grass.

StarClaws

Go play Doom1, Doom2, Wolfenstein 3D, Other Games... Ragnarok Online? lol... Go observe textures that 'turn'. It is an easy 'do-able'... Just takes skill to apply modeling that looks 'authentic' ... Also helps with a newer engine (Those games are old)

Harimau

Lol, this discussion just reminded me of...
<a href="http://www.eegra.com/pages/show/title/03_02_2009_Anyone_here_with_a_fetish_for_3D_grass_in_videogames_/" target="_blank">Anyone here with a fetish for 3D grass in videogames?</a>

riddik

would love to plant some grassstrings in a big infested room.
as it grows and reproduces it soon gets a tactical advantage for sculks ang gorgies
(schschschleeeichwerbung)

Align

<!--quoteo(post=1699541:date=Feb 5 2009, 04:49 PM:name=Radix)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Radix @ Feb 5 2009, 04:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1699541"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Source supports ... gad what r they called... I don't remember. It's the effect where when you place a given texture and view it from the side little sprigs of grass, etc. spring up from it like holograms.

Not too server intensive iirc. Maybe that would do what you're looking for.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
func_detail wasn't it? clientside, too - lower graphics settings don't display the grass at all

botchiball

Hmm... growings "grassy fields" of infestation to hide Kharaa which tend to stay around knee height sounds like a great idea for a Kharaa Commander Ability.

locallyunscene

The main problems I have with grass are:
1.) Due to erformance issues, players usually have the option to turn it off. If this is the case, a lot of people would leave it off.
2.) NS2 is an indoor game, so spending time on an "outdoor" feature seems out of scope.

botchiball

<!--quoteo(post=1700146:date=Feb 12 2009, 11:41 AM:name=locallyunscene)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(locallyunscene @ Feb 12 2009, 11:41 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1700146"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->The main problems I have with grass are:
1.) Due to erformance issues, players usually have the option to turn it off. If this is the case, a lot of people would leave it off.
2.) NS2 is an indoor game, so spending time on an "outdoor" feature seems out of scope.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I would see this as an "indoor" feature.. its just that the Kharaa's infestation is in fact turning the inside of a building or spaceship - or whatever - into <i>their</i> environment.

Performance could be an issue, but honestly they've had grass in games since half-life 1.. maybe before, I'm not sure. Granted it wasn't any good, but I think most engines and most people's computers could handle some sort of 'grass'-like sprite system.

I also wouldn't see it as something which you could turn off - unless it was just there for a visual bonus. If it were an upgrade to help hide kharaa, then definately it shouldn't be allowed to turn it off.

Harimau

Does that mean Kharaa can see through it?

I support vegetation primarily on an aesthetic basis.

ryknow69

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->2.) NS2 is an indoor game, so spending time on an "outdoor" feature seems out of scope.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Biodomes *cough cough*

M00_cow

I see what your saying, and yes, grass would add a great deal to a game like NS2. One problem i see is the case of the person whose has their graphics turned down low, and with that, the grass gone, and therefore, people with high performance PC's will be at disadvantage.

Apart from that, i love grass. Just wouldn't want it to be too high. If skulks could be completely hidden in the grass, it would be just silly.

ryknow69

i agree on that 1